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Othello

Othello

Drama · 1951

Manipulated by his jealous ensign Iago, the Moorish general Othello is driven to believe that his new wife Desdemona is unfaithful, setting in motion a chain of deception, jealousy, and violence that leads to tragedy.

Movie details

Othello

“Orson Welles' magnificent screening of Shakespeare's immortal tragedy”

1951 Drama 1h 33m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.4 / 10

Community rating

Manipulated by his jealous ensign Iago, the Moorish general Othello is driven to believe that his new wife Desdemona is unfaithful, setting in motion a chain of deception, jealousy, and violence that leads to tragedy.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Othello?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Orson Welles

Written by

Jean Sacha · Orson Welles

Orson Welles

Orson Welles

Othello

Micheál Mac Liammóir

Micheál Mac Liammóir

Iago

Robert Coote

Robert Coote

Roderigo

Suzanne Cloutier

Suzanne Cloutier

Desdemona

Hilton Edwards

Hilton Edwards

Brabantio

N

Nicholas Bruce

Lodovico

M

Michael Laurence

Michael Cassio

Court is in session

Put Othello on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.